Jackson Holliday got his first hit in Major League Baseball during the seventh inning. Then, he scored the go-ahead run, helping the Baltimore Orioles avoid a sweep by defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 6-4 on Sunday.
“I feel pretty relieved,” said Holliday, who is considered the best prospect in baseball. “It’s nice to finally get that first hit and just enjoy playing baseball instead of worrying about getting a hit.”
Holliday had struck out in his first two at-bats and hadn’t gotten a hit in his first 13 at-bats since joining the Orioles. However, in the seventh inning with the Orioles trailing 4-3, he managed to get a single off a fastball from pitcher Abner Uribe.
Teammate Colton Cowser joked that Holliday just needed to face a pitcher throwing at 100 mph to get his first hit.
Then, Holliday showed his speed, making it from first to third base on Gunnar Henderson’s RBI single. This was crucial because it allowed him to score later, putting the Orioles ahead 5-4 when Adley Rutschman hit into a double play.
At just 20 years and 132 days old, Holliday became the youngest Orioles player to get a hit since Manny Machado did it in 2012 at the age of 20 years and 85 days.
“If you go hitless for a few games, it’s part of baseball,” Holliday said. “I’d rather it not happen at the start of my career, but it’s part of the game. I’m glad to learn from it.”
In the eighth inning, teammate Colton Cowser hit a home run, making it the Orioles’ third solo homer of the day. Holliday ended up stranding two runners that inning with a groundout.
Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn also homered for Baltimore.
Yennier Cano got to win, despite allowing a solo home run in the seventh inning. Danny Coulombe pitched the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel, who allowed two singles in the ninth, struck out three batters for his third save.
